Introducing the Nature Cure Series!
I’m excited to announce a new blog series! You can expect weekly updates at preservenaturopathic.com. Posts will be shared to social media as well. This blog is called the Nature Cure Series and depending on your experience with naturopathic medicine you may be wondering just what that means.
In naturopathic medicine, Nature Cure is a philosophy and practice style that centers around the belief that under the right conditions, the body can heal itself. The main job of the doctor is to help the patient establish the conditions for health. There is minimal reliance on medications and even herbs or supplements. Nutrition and healthy practices such as movement, rest, and hydrotherapy are the key to recovering from disease and maintaining health. Time spent in nature is also a critical piece of the nature cure philosophy.
While I have a deep respect for this philosophy and do believe the right conditions can go a long way in improving health, I would not say I am a Nature Cure “purist” for a couple of reasons.
First, I think it’s close to impossible for most people to achieve those perfect conditions, at least in the United States and in many other countries as well. While some people may be able to make drastic lifestyle changes such as spending a month or two at the seashore and eating only the freshest organic foods, many of the patients I work with feel pretty close to “capacity”. The idea of changing one small thing is overwhelming; changing everything is out of the question. Organic food is expensive, cooking is time consuming, some folks spend hours cooking a highly nutritious meal only to have their kids refuse to eat it. My patients are working long hours, caring for family members, or dealing with their own debilitating health condition; sometimes they are doing all three.
Second, while I think it’s important to recognize the agency we do have over our own health, I firmly believe that there is a lot we cannot control. I am not claiming that lifestyle choices don’t affect our health. There are countless studies that show the benefits of regular moderate exercise, diets rich in antioxidants and fiber, and getting the right amount of sleep. But sometimes despite our best efforts, genetics, trauma, oppression, racism, poverty, environmental exposure, plain old bad luck, or (usually) some terrible combination of these circumstances, overwhelms the work we put in. At least for a while. And in these times herbs, supplements, and medications are extremely important!
When I went into naturopathic medicine, I think I envisioned myself as more of a vitalist or Nature Cure enthusiast but somewhere along the line I started to change. Some days it feels like realism but other days I worry it is turning into cynicism, disillusionment, even fatalism. When I spend a day in front of the computer completing chart notes, I’m checking boxes to make sure the visit is billable in case I get audited by insurance, or I’m making sure I use appropriate medical terminology and acknowledging standards of care guidelines so other doctors who may see it in the future don’t think I’m too “woo-woo.” I’m missing pieces of the puzzle. I’m forgetting there are few health conditions that won’t be positively impacted by breathing in fresh air, connecting one’s bare feet to the earth, or joyfully moving outside. Too often I’m forgetting to do those things myself. And that is not the kind of doctor I want to be. It’s not the kind of life I want to live either. So…I write this blog. It’s a call to action for myself and a reminder to my patients that getting outside and connecting to nature is a big f*cking deal! It is a determinant of health, and I would probably argue it is the biggest determinant of health. It regulates the nervous system and changes brain chemistry in a way that makes it easier to do those other pieces like eating vegetables, sleeping, and not binging on screens.
Each week I will be sharing some way in which I connected to nature. It might be a venture to the woods or the beach or might just be noticing plants or mushrooms around my neighborhood. I might share recipes using herbs or foods I find outside. The blog is mainly for me, but I hope you connect to it too! I’d love to hear about the ways you connect to nature in the comments. Take care this week and hug a tree for me!